Page:History of Utah.djvu/202



160 THE STORY OF MORMONISM.

he has no soul. He comes to Joseph and says, "Hail, master!" and worships him. He professes all that the Mormons profess, and more; he does all that the Mormons do, and more. So the prophet makes him general of his legion, mayor of the city, cliancellor of the university, not to mention his func- tions as attorney, doctor, and privy counsellor. All this is done with quick despatch; and the result is that the great man soon tires of his greatness, or thinks to become yet greater by turning rene- gade, and writing a book against his late friends and associates."

'1 Representative of a class of anti-Mormon literature, not altogether creditable to either its authors or supporters, are the following:

The History of the Saints; or, An Expose of Joe Smith and Ilormonisin. By John C. Bennett. (Boston, 1842.)

The Abominations of 3Iormo7iis7n Exposed; containing many Fads and Doctrines concerning that singular people d/irin/ seven years'' membership with them, from 1840 to 1S47. By William Hall. (Cincinnati, 1832.)

Mormonism: Its Leaders and Designs. By John Hyde, Jim., formerly a Mormon elder and resident of Salt Lake City. (New York, 1857.)

Mormonism Unveiled; or. The Life and Confessions of the late Mormon bishop, John D. Lee; Written by Himself; Embracing a history of Mormonism from its inception down to the present time, luith an exposition of the secret his- tory, signs, symbols, and crimes of the Mormon Church; cdso the true history of the horrible butchery known as the Mountain Meadow Massacre. (St Louis, 1877.)

The role of traitor is not one which in any wise brings credit to the performer, either from one side or the other. However great the service he may render us, we cannot but feel that he is false-hearted and vile. JNIany of the apostates, though they may not have written books, declare that tacy joined the sect only to learn their secrets and then expose them. These are the most contemptible of all. There may be cases where a young or inex- perienced person, through ignorance or susceptibility, has been carried away for a time contrary to the dictates of cooler judgment; but the statements of such persons are justly regarded with more or less suspicion. Far better is it, far more honest and praiseworthy, for him who, having unwittingly made a mistake, seeks to rectify it, to go his way and say nothing about it; for if lie talks of writing a book for the good of others, as a warning, and that they may avoid his errors, few will believe him. ' If he has proved traitor once,' they say, 'he will deceive again; and if he is sincere, we cannot more tlian half believe him, for such an individual is never sure of himself.' John C. Bennett, general, doctor, methodist preacher, and quack, is from his own fallowing a bad man. He devotes some liity pages to the vindication of his character, which would not be necessary were he honest; other ilfty are given to defaming his late worshipful patron Joseph .Sn:iith, which would never have been written were he true. When a man tlirus;.s in your face three-score certificates of his good character, each signed by from one to a dozen persons, you may know that he is a very great rascal. Nor are we disappointed here. This author is a charlatan, pure and shnplc; suc'.i was lie wlicn he joined the IMormous, and before and after. AVe may credit him fully v/hen he says, 'I never believed in them or their doctrines;' although in a letter to Dr Dyer, dated Nauvoo, Jan. 23, 1842, he declares: ' My heart ia